M. Kathryn Brown, PhD

My teaching philosophy is fairly straightforward. I believe students should be encouraged to learn through engagement with the course material, both inside and outside of the classroom. I strive to make the course subject both interesting and relevant to everyday problems and issues. This may seem like a difficult task for an archaeologist, but much of what I teach is relevant to modern society. I teach students about the successes and failures of past societies and how we can learn from these examples and apply this knowledge to better our lives today. Learning about the past provides a mirror for self reflection for today and allows us to better understand the cultural tensions in the modern world. An effective teacher must be committed to sharing knowledge, be enthusiastic about their discipline and genuinely enjoy teaching. Through the process of sharing their knowledge, a good teacher will, in turn, learn from his or her students.